Multiple-leaf filing folder



Nov. 3, 1942. J. EI'FEL MULTIPLE-LEAF FILING FOLDER Filed May 31, '1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 3, 1942.

MULTIPLE-LEAF FILING FOLDER Filed May 51, 1941 s Shets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,301,026 MULTIPLE-LEAF FILING FOLDER JosephEifel, Chicago, Ill. Application May 31, 1941, Serial No. 396,086

7 Claims.

This invention relates to filing folders adapted to hold the material to be filed between a plurality of filing leaves or sheets which are so'constructed that they can be quickly and easily fastened together so as to make a firmly and securely bound multiple-leaf filing folder by merely folding and interlacing the filing leaves or sheets with each other so that they interlock.

The principal object of my invention is, to provide a filing folder consisting of a number of'filing leaves or sheets which are firmly and securely bound together without the aid of any accessories, auxiliary parts or attachments, by merely folding and interlacing them with each other by means of projecting members which are a part of the filing leaf or sheet itself and which interlook when lips provided in the members engage slits in the filing leaf or sheet to which they are attached. When the filing folder is asembled and in use, the material to be filed is kept either between the filing leaves or sheets themselves, or in convenient pockets with which the filing leaves or sheets may be provided, and, therefore, the quantity of material that may be filed, and its classification, is determined by the number of filing leaves or sheets that are bound into the folder. Thus, it is possible for a person .to quickly and easily assemble the filing folder himself according to his individual requirements as to classification and capacity with respectto the material to be filed, and in constructing it he'may use as many or as few filing leaves or sheets as desired.

Another advantage of my filing folder is that it is very economical to manufacture since it may be stamped from a single sheet in one operation. Furthermore, since it requires no attachments or accessories for the purpose ofbinding the filing leaves or sheets together, it is extremely compact and of light weight and, thereby, avoids two great disadvantages where filing, is concerned; namely, bulk and weight. g

The invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a single filing leaf or sheet;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the filing folder opened flat with two filing leaves or sheets interlaced and interlocked with each other;

Figure 3 is a detailed plan View of the means of interlacing and interlocking the filing leaves or sheets;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the interlocking of the filing pocket fiap of the filing leaf or sheet;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the interlacing and interlocking means of two sheets from above;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the interlacing and interlocking means of two sheets from below;

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a completely assembled filing folder showing possibilities as to its use for classification purposes.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the single filing leaf or sheet it, which is cut or stamped in one piece from any suitable sheet material although a manila or red, rope paper stock commcnly used in the manufacture of filing folders is preferred, is shaped to form on one side thereof (the left side when the sheet is in use) a gusset strip H which is folded over the face of the filing leafcr sheet ill on the line AA when the filing "folder is assembled. To effect the interlacing of the filing leaves or sheets W with each other, thegussetstrip ii is provided withoutwardly projecting members l2 of sufiicient'size to permit thesefiling leaves or sheets to be firmly and securelyjoined together. Each of the projecting members !2 contains inwardly curved slits l3 and M which, upon application of pressure, form. lips iii and iii, respectively. The functicning of these lips l5 and It will be more fully discussed later, but it should be noted that, in order to bind the filing leaves or sheets firmly together in the assembled filing folder, the curved slits M are so placed that the chords of their arcs (i. e., the strlght line joining the extremities of the curved slits) lie along and coincide with the chords of the arcs of the projecting members l2 in which they are placed (i. e., the straight line joining the juncture points of the projecting members ill with the gusset strip I, being the line of the outer edge of the gusset strip through these projecting members). Since the lips iii are designed to securely interlock and hold the projecting tips of the projecting members [2 when they are interlaced with other filing leaves or sheets, the curved slits 63 may be placed at any suitable position in the protruding end of the projecting members l2. However, while it is not essential, it is advantageous that the curved slits be placed in such a position in the pro,- iecting members 12 that the chords of the arcs formed by these slits are parallel to the chords of the arcs of the corresponding curved slits M and the base-line or chord of the projecting member !2 in which they are placed. The slits l3 and I4 may be of any convenient length consistent with the formation of lips of sufficient strength when interlocked, but the proportions shown in the drawings are preferred since they give a maximum binding strength with a minimum of exposed edges when the filing leaves or sheets are interlaced and interlocked. It will be found convenient at times to refer to the lips it, formed from the curved slits I4, as main interlocking lips, and to the lips i5, formed from the curved slits [3, as auxiliary interlocking lips.

On the left marginal portion of the filing leaf or sheet proper as distinguished from the gusset strip portion of the filing leaf or sheet if! already described, and opposite each of the projecting members 12, a corresponding straight slit H is cut or stamped. This straight slit I! is parallel to the gusset strip I l and at a distance therefrom (i. e., from the folding edge AA) equal to the width of th gusset strip H; its length being equal to the length of the corresponding projecting member l2, at its base, with the extremities of the slit I! perpendicularly opposite the extremities of the base of the corresponding projecting member l2 since the purpose of this straight slit I! is to snugly receive the corresponding projecting members [2 when the filing leaves or sheets it are interlaced with each other. To the right of each of the straight slits I! and at a suificient distance therefrom to snugly engage the end portions of opposite corresponding projecting members l2 when the latter are fully inserted in corresponding straight slits I! (as will be presently shown), are curved slits i3. These curved slits 18 are so positioned that the auxiliary lips l3 of corresponding projecting members l2 will snugly engage the curved edges of corresponding curved slits 18 when the projecting members 22 are fully inserted into both the straight slits i1 and the curved slits l8 which are reciprocally disposed thereto in an opposite and corresponding position.

Still referring to Figure l, a conveniently shaped pocket fiap I9 is provided along the normal bottom of the filing leaf or sheet Ii] when the latter is held with the gusset strip H to the left. This pocket fiap H! has interlocking tabs 20 and 2i on its opposite edges which are of sufficient size to provide strength. When the flap I9 is folded on the line BB, the tabs 23 and 2! engage corresponding suitably positioned slits 22 and 23 in th filing leaf or sheet Iii which are provided for this purpose, and a convenient pocket for holding the material to be filed is thus formed. The filing leaf or sheet H] is also provided with port holes 24 which permit observation of the contents of the file folder when it has been assembled and is in use.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings which shows the assembled filing folder opened flat, the filing leaves or sheets are interlaced and bound together by the engagement of the projecting members I2 of one with the corresponding slits I! and I8 of the other, thereby permitting as many filing leaves or sheets to be bound together as desired; it being remembered that these filing leaves or sheets fold along the line AA as previously explained.

As will be more clearly seen in Figures 3, and 6 of the drawings, this engagement of the filing leaves or sheets, with each other is accomplished by inserting the projecting members l2 of one filing leaf or sheet l0 into the corresponding straight slits I 1 of another filing leaf or sheet Illa, the projecting members [2 then being threaded through the corresponding slit l8 of said filing leaf or sheet i Ba, so that the two filing leaves or sheets it] and Illa are interlac d and interlocked when the lips 15 and It in the projecting members 12 are pushed over the edges of the slits l1 and 18 respectively so as to engage these slits when the projecting member I2 is fully inserted with the gusset strip II or filing leaf or sheet H] closely and firmly joined with the filing leaf or sheet I Bet along its edge portion. It should be noted that the slits i1 and 18 are especially adapted to receive tightly the corresponding projecting members 12 and to engage firmly the lips i5 and It in these members in order that the filing leaves or sheets will be united with sufficient rigidity in the assembled filing folder.

As pointed out previously, any number of these filing leaves or sheets may be bound together and this is accomplished by merely inserting the projecting member l2 of the last filing leaf or sheet of the filing folder into the slits l1 and i8 of the filing leaf or sheet to be added, in the manner just described.

The free and unengaged gusset strip H of the last filing leaf or sheet of the filing folder (see Figures 5 and 6) is folded in the opposite direction from the fold of the other filing leaves and sheets in the filing folder in order that the projecting members l2 of this last sheet may be threaded in th corresponding slits l1 and I8 of the filing leaf or sheet to which this last sheet is attached. Thus, the finished filing folder is firmly and permanently bound Without unused members protruding.

Returning now to Figure 2 of the drawings, the pockets of the filing leaves or sheets H] are formed by folding the pocket flap IS on the line BB and securing the pocket thus formed in place by the engagement of the tabs 29 and 2! with the slits 22 and 23 adapted to receive them. After the tabs 29 and 21 have been inserted in the correspondin slits 22 and Z3 designed to receive them they are interlocked by being folded over so as to bind the reverse sid of the filing leaf or sheet H] in the manner shown by the cross-sectional view, Figure 4, and it will be found advantageous to secure them in place by the application of a suitable adhesive or adhesive tape. It will be noted that the pockets are adapted to be folded so a to be on either the front or reverse side of the filing leaf or sheet of which they are a part. Therefore, it will be found convenient to reverse-fold the pocket on the last filing leaf or sheet added to the filing folder so that the last pocket will be on the reverse side of the last sheet.

Figure 7 of the drawings illustrates a completely assembled filing folder comprising, in the embodiment shown, seven filing leaves or sheets, l0, Illa, I32), I90, ltd, Hie, and Hi), although, as previously pointed out, any practical number of filing leaves or sheets may be bound into a unit, and it also reveals the adaptability of my invention with respect to the classification of material to be filed.

Having described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to sesure by Letters Patent is:

l. A filing folder comprising a plurality of filing sheets, a gusset strip on each of said sheets, members projecting from said gusset strip, slits in said projecting members forming lips, and slits in said filing sheet adapted to receive corresponding projecting members of other similar sheets and to engage corresponding lips in said projecting members.

2. A filing folder comprising a plurality of filing sheets, a gusset strip on one edge of each of said sheets, members projecting from said gusset strip, slits in said projecting members forming lips, slits in said filing sheet adapted to receive corresponding projecting members of other similar sheets and to engage corresponding lips in said projecting members; a flap on another edge of each of said sheets forming a pocket when folded, interlocking tabs on said pocket flap, slits on said sheet adapted to receive and engage said interlocking tabs when said flap is folded to form a pocket.

3. A multiple-leaf filing folder comprising a plurality of similar sheets, projections on the same edge portions of said sheets, slits in said projections forming lips, and slits in said sheets adapted to receive similar projections of other similar sheets and to engage the lips in said projections.

4. A multiple-leaf filing folder comprising a plurality of similar sheets, projections on the same edge portions of said sheets, slits in said projections forming lips, slits in said sheets adapted to receive similar projections of other similar sheets and to engage the lips in said projections; a flap projecting from another edge of each of said sheets forming a pocket when folded,

; tabs to secure said pocket to said sheet, and slits in said sheet adapted to receive and engage said pocket tabs.

5. A filing folder comprising a plurality of filing sheets, members projecting from each of said sheets, slits in said projecting members forming interlocking lips, and slits in said filing sheet adapted to receive corresponding projecting members of other similar sheets and to permit engagement with the corresponding interlocking lips of said projecting members whereby said projecting members are interlocked with and detachably bound to said filing sheet.

6. A filing folder comprising a plurality of filing sheets, a gusset strip on one edge of each of said sheets, members projecting from said gusset strip, slits in said projecting members forming interlocking members, slits in said filing sheet adapted to receive corresponding projecting members of other similar sheets and to permit engagement with the corresponding interlocking members of said projecting members whereby said projecting members are interlocked with and bound to said filing sheet; a flap on another edge of each of said filing sheets forming a pocket when folded, tabs on said flap to secure said pocket to said filing sheet, and slits in said filing sheet adapted to receive and engage said pocket tabs.

7. A filing folder comprising a plurality of filing sheets, a gusset strip on each of said sheets, members projecting from said gusset strip, slits in said projecting members forming interlocking lips, and slits in said filing sheet adapted to receive corresponding projecting members of other similar sheets and to permit engagement with corresponding interlocking lips of said projecting members of other similar sheets, whereby said projecting members are detachably bound to said filing sheet.

JOSEPH EIFEL. 

